New pope won't threaten Orthodox-Catholic ties

Pope Benedict XVI (left) greets Metropolitan of Smolensk Kirill, a senior representative of the Russian Orthodox Church at the Vatican on May 18, 2006. Source: AFP

Pope Benedict XVI, 85, officially steps down on Feb. 28. Following his abdication, experts and representatives of the Catholic and Orthodox clergy anticipate closer relations between the two churches under the next incumbent.

The abdication of
Pope Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger) came as a surprise to the entire Christian
world, including representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC). Noting
the tremendous progress made between the different Christian traditions under
his papacy, experts believe that, whoever is elected to lead the Catholic
Church, relations with the ROC will not suffer.

The official
position of the ROC was stated by the chairman of the Department for External
Church Relations (DECR) of the Moscow Patriarchate, Metropolitan Hilarion of
Volokalamsk. He suggested that, in the face of serious challenges requiring new
stimuli, the pope is naturally giving way to a younger and more dynamic
successor.

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"Pope
Benedict XVI's decision to resign can be regarded as an act of personal courage
and humility," read the statement issued by the head of the DECR.
"The Orthodox Church is grateful to the outgoing pontiff for his
understanding of the obstacles that lie in the way of fully normalized
relations between the Orthodox and Catholic churches, especially in western
Ukraine."

On the eve of the
announcement of the pope's abdication, Metropolitan Hilarion aptly noted the
positive trend in relations between the Russian Orthodox and Roman Catholic
churches that had taken place following the ascension of Ratzinger to the Holy
See. "It is hoped that his successor will continue along the same path, so
that the relationship between Orthodox and Catholic Christians further develops
for the common good of all Christendom," said the metropolitan.

Patriarch Kirill
of Moscow and All Russia also praised the pope's action. In his opinion,
"Pope Benedict XVI's position on the most pressing issues of our time is
worthy of respect, as is his steadfast upholding of the apostolic
tradition." This statement was erroneously reported in the press as a
comment on the pope's abdication, when, in fact, the patriarch had made the
assessment a few days earlier.

In conversation
with RBTH, experts from both sides of the divide agreed that relations with the
ROC will not deteriorate, regardless of the identity of the new pope.

"The Catholic
Church has always seen its most important task in deepening the ecclesiastical
communion and ecumenical dialogue. Unity is achievable, but it is difficult to
predict when it will happen: are we talking about the near future or centuries
hence? The election of a new pope will not alter that perspective," says
the Rev. Kirill Gorbunov, director of the information service of the Roman
Catholic Archdiocese of the Mother of God in Moscow.

Of course, the
identity of the new pope will be of significance. Gorbunov admits that the new
pontiff may not be European and, therefore, may be less knowledgeable about Russia
than popes John Paul II or Benedict XVI.

"But the basic principle of
reciprocity has been formulated, and no major changes are to be expected.
History and divine purpose are far greater than individual personalities.
Today, the two churches are facing new challenges — in many countries,
Christianity is now a minority religion. And the development of relations
between Catholics and Orthodox is an internal requirement for all," said
Gorbunov.

Senior Archdeacon
Andrei Kuraev, an Orthodox publisher, believes that predictions are futile
until the successor is known. "If the pope comes from Latin America or
Africa, he will have his own agenda and priorities," said the ROC
representative.

Roman Silantyev,
head of the Geography of Religions Center, believes that, if the new pope is
European, relations between the Vatican and the Moscow Patriarchate will not
change. In global terms, the ROC and the Catholic Church are allies, despite
some unresolved issues, such as the Uniate Church in Ukraine.

"Benedict XVI
leaves office with relations between the two churches in a healthy condition.
Russia hopes that his successor will preserve them. That is likely to be the
case if the new pope is European. If he is from Latin America or Africa, the
pendulum could swing. But Catholics would prefer to see a European pope, since
Europe is where the Church's main problems are currently focused," said
Silantyev.

Executive
secretary of the Russian Catholic Encyclopedia, Alexei Yudin, agrees that
relations under Pope Benedict XVI have stabilized; he believes that Ratzinger
himself was of interest to the Orthodox world as a distinguished theologian.
Both churches face global issues, which is leading to rapprochement rather than
division. The ROC is expanding its missionary work, in which it will require
pastoral assistance.

"It
is important to remember that the Christian East — including Russian Orthodoxy
— is close to the heart of many Europeans," said Yudin. "But whoever
is elected to the Holy See will have to change. It is possible that an
‘unexpected’ pontiff (i.e., African or Latin American) would display hitherto
unseen energy, adding new impetus to the dialogue. In any case, the prospects
for further development of relations are good."